The early morning gathering was part of the local "week of prayer" activities at various locations around Vandalia – including Vandalia City Hall, Vandalia Community High School. The weeklong observance culminated with a prayer breakfast on Thursday – the national day of prayer – at Crawford-Hale American Legion Home.

By Panzi Blackwell
First Baptist Church of Vandalia held its annual Mother-Daughter Dinner last Thursday.
Elaine Culbertson welcomed the room filled with grandmothers, mothers, daughters and their guests.

By Edith Elliott
After the week of prayer and a great Mother’s Day worship service, one might think Evergreen Outreach might prove to be anticlimactic. But EO proved not to be a descent, but a further climb of celebration.
Are you aware of the blessings we have right here in Vandalia? As I entered Wesley Hall, Phyllis Thoman at the piano, entertained with many tunes. Some were “Shortenin' Bread,” “Good Ole’ Summertime,” “This Land Is Your Land” and many others.

As I work on this article, I am done with three miles of running on a local gym’s treadmill. I won’t say it is easy, although it is easier than it was one year ago, when I could only walk one mile, followed by two days of groaning.

The St. Elmo High School softball team came-from-behind to win the Egyptian-Illini Conference Tournament on Saturday.

Facing a 7-0 deficit after 2 1/2 innings against Mulberry Grove, the Lady Eagles used a two-run home run from senior Brooke Maxey, who was named a co-MVP of the EIC, and back-to-back-to-back RBI hits to score five times in the bottom of the third to change the game's complexion.

The Lady Aces would again take a lead, however, scoring once in each the fourth and fifth innings to take a 9-5 advantage.